Mahoning’s second case of swine flu is confirmed; 2 others are suspected

By William K. Alcorn

YOUNGSTOWN — Mahoning County has its second confirmed case of H1N1 flu (swine flu) — a 41-year-old female who was treated by her personal physician and was not hospitalized.

The case was confirmed Monday by the Ohio Department of Health. The state lists the patient as a male, but Susan Kovach, epidemiologist for the Mahoning County District Board of Health, said the patient is a female.

Also, there are two more suspected cases, one in the county and one in Youngstown, according to Kovach and Neil Altman, commissioner of the Youngstown City Board of Health.

The first case in Mahoning County, a 22-year-old woman health officials said fully recovered, was hospitalized with flulike symptoms shortly after returning home May 26 from a trip to Florida and was discharged May 31.

Kovach said the second H1N1 victim has not traveled out of the area recently and that health officials have no idea when she contracted the illness.

Ohio’s first case of swine flu was confirmed April 26.

On June 11, the World Health Organization raised the worldwide pandemic alert level to Phase 6 in response to the ongoing global spread of the novel influenza A (H1N1) virus, with some 70 countries reporting cases of human infection with H1N1 flu.

A Phase 6 designation indicates that a global pandemic is under way, according to the state health department.

alcorn@vindy.com